Founding of Dōshisha English School in Kyōto (1875)

The Dōshisha English School was founded in Kyoto in 1875 by Niijima Jō, also known as Joseph Hardy Neesima. Established as a Christian educational institution, it served as the predecessor to Dōshisha University. Niijima, who had studied in the United States, returned to Japan to create a school for Japanese students focusing on English, science, and Christian moral teachings.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Niijima Jō, born in 1843, left Japan for the United States in 1864 despite travel bans. He studied at Phillips Academy and Amherst College, becoming the first Japanese person to receive a bachelor's degree. Influenced by Western education systems and Christian teachings, he returned to Japan in 1874 to establish a school based on these principles.

Funding and Return. Before returning to Japan, Neesima attended the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions meeting in Rutland, Vermont, in October 1874. He appealed for funds to start a Christian college, securing an estimated $5,000 in donations. With this support, he returned to Japan to establish the school.

Founding. In 1875, Niijima founded the Dōshisha English School in Kyoto. The school was designed as a Japanese institution for Japanese students, with no foreign staff, focusing on English and science. Christianity was placed at the core of its moral education, aiming to achieve ideal education through Christian teachings.

People involved

Sources

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